Al Capone

Possibly the most famous gangster of all time, Al "Scarface" Capone ran a criminal empire for years. He got away with murder, theft, bootlegging, blackmail, and fixed gambling until the FBI finally got him- for tax evasion. Born Alphonse Capone of immigrants in Brooklyn, NY, Al Capone dropped out of school after sixth grade. In 1920, Capone went to Chicago and joined Johnny Torrio in the Colosimo mob. After the death of "Big Jim" Colosimo, Capone gained status as Torrio's right-hand man. In 1925, five years after Capone went to Chicago, Torrio ceded control to him after an assassination attempt. Capone then integrated or eliminated most of the smaller gangs in the area. Capone's most famous crime was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, when some members of the Capone mob who were disguised as police machine-gunned seven members of the rival Bugs Moran gang against a garage wall. Capone gave the order, but was in Florida at the time. Then, in 1928, it all came crashing down. Capone forgot to pay his taxes. What a way to go. However, he did good things, too. "Big Al's Kitchen for the Needy" provided free soup, doughnuts, and coffee to the jobless DURING THE DPRESSION.

"When I sell liquor, they call it bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver platters on Lake Shore Drive, they call it hospitality."- Al Capone"I make my money supplying a popular demand. If I break the law, my customers are as guilty as I am."- Al Capone